Electric snap switch



1947" H. w. BATCHELLER 42,432,647

ELECTRIC SNAP SWITCH Filed Dec. 7, 1945 Patented Dec. 16, 1947.

ELECTRIC SNAP SWITCH Hugh W. Batcheller, Newton, Mass, assignor to Standard Mfg. 00., Watertown, Mass., a corpox-a'tion of Massachusetts Application December 7, 1945, Serial No. 633,411

3 Claims. (Cl. 200-68) This invention relates to an electric switch having a snap action for movement of a switch element to any one of three positions.

It is an object of the invention to provide a switch which is simple and compact in structure, which is composed of parts which are relatively easy to make and to assemble, and which is reliable and durable in operation.

For a. more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following description of an embodiment thereof, and to the drawing, of which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a switch embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the same;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3--3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 44 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 55 of Fi ure 4;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the switch operating member;

Figure '7 is a perspective view of the conductor element in the switch.

As illustrated in the drawing, the switch comprises a rear housing member which is preferably of molded plastic material and which has an elongated cavity I2 therein. To the front of the housing member I 0 is a second housing member I4 which may be of suitable material such as metal or a plastic, this member having a domed front portion within which is rockable a manually operable'member 20. The operating member 20 has a spherical body which fits in the dome. The front housing member I 4 is provided with a slot 22 through which the handle 23 of the member 20 projects so as to be accessible for the operation of the switch. The slot 22 is of sufficient length to permit the member 20 to be rocked in one direction or the other from the open switch position illustrated in Figures 1, 3, and 4.

In-the rear wall of the housing member ID are three conducting elements 24, 26, and 28. each of these elements having a connecting terminal element secured to the outside end thereof, The elements 24, 26, and 28 have flatcontact faces 32, 34, and 36 presented at the inner end thereof within the housing member l0, these faces being preferably in a common plane and also in alignment. The face 34 of the middle contact element is preferably square. Against this face is disposed the flat central portion 38 of a bridging conductor 40 which consists of a strip of metal loosely fitted within the elongated cavity l2. As

shown in Figure '7, the bridging conductor 40 is provided with a pair of laterally projecting ears 42 which are centrally located and which serve as trunnions. The housing member Ill is provided with lateral recesses 44 on its inner surface to receive the cars 42 so as to prevent longitudinal displacement of the bridging conductor 40 when the switch. is operated. In addition to the fiat central portion 38, the bridging conductor has two end portions 46 and 48 which are inclined with respect to the central portion 38 so that when the switch is open, these end portions extend over but are spaced from the respective contact faces 32 and 36, as indicated in Figure 3. The bridging conductor is rocked and is maintalned in any one of its three positions of operation by a plunger 50 which is siidably received in a bore 52 within the operating member 20. As indicated in Figure 4, a compression spring 54 is located within the bore 52. This is a spring pressing against the plunger 50 so as to hold the plunger resiliently against the surface of the bridging conductor 40. When the switch is open, the plunger bears'against the central portion 48 of the bridging conductor and holds it flat against the plane face 34 of the middle conductin element 26. From this position, the operating member 20 can be rocked in either direction, causing the plunger to slide along the length of the bridging conductor 40. When the plunger rides on either of the end portions 46 or 48 of the bridging conductor, the latter is rocked about its ears 42 as an axis causing one of the end portions to move into contact with the corresponding conducting element, thus closing one of the two circuits which the switch is designed to control.

In order to provide a yielding detent by which the switch can be maintained in its open position, a pair of bosses are formed on the member 20 at any suitable point, preferably adjacent to the base of the handle 23. The interior surface of the front housing member I 4 is recessed as at 62 (Figure 5) to receive the bosses 60 when the switch is in its open position. The spring 54 .serves not only to press the plunger 50 against I claim: 7 O

1. An electric switch comprising front and rear housing members secured together, a series of three conducting elements extending through the back wall of said rear housing member and presenting aligned contact faces within the housing, the middle conducting element having a substantially plane face, a bridging conductor consisting of a flat metal strip loosely fitted between side walls of said rear housing member, said bridging conductor having a central portion held fiat against the face of the middle element when the switch is open and end portions inclined with respect to the central portion to extend over and be spaced from respective end conducting elements when the switch is open, an operating member rockably fitted within said front housing member, said operating member having a springpressed plunger projecting rearwardly therefrom to bear against said bridging conductor and a handle portion projecting forward through said front housing member, said front housing mem ber having a slot therein for movement of the handle when the operating member is rocked to slide said plunger along the face of said bridging conductor, and yielding detent means for holding said operating member releasably in a central position, said detent means including an indentation within said front housing member and a boss on said operating member projecting into said indentation when the switch is open.

2. An electric switch comprising front and rear housing members secured together, switch elements within said housing including fixed contact elements and a bridging conductor rockable against the rear wall of the housing to cooperate with the fixed elements, an operating member rockable against the'front wall of said housing, said operating member having a handle projecting through and movable in a slot in said front wall, means simultaneously pressing said bridging conductor against the rear wall and said operating member against the front wall, said means consisting of a plunger projecting from said operating member and bearing against said-bridging conductor and a spring within said operating member pressing against the inner end of said plunger, and yielding detent means for holding said operating member releasably in a central position, said detent means including an indentation in said front wall and a boss on said operating member projecting into said indentation when the operating member is in said central position.

3. An electric switch comprising front and rear housing members secured together conducting elements extending through the wall of said rear housing member and presenting contact faces therein, a bridging conductor rockable in said housing into and out of contact with at least one of said contact faces, an operating member rockably mounted within said housing, said operating member having a spherical body portion with a handle Projecting forward therefrom and a pair of small bosses on the front thereof on either side of said handle, said front housing member having an inner cavity to receive and confine said operating member and a slot through which the handle projects and along which the handle moves when the operating member is rocked, said front housing member also having inner recesses to receive said bosses when the operating member is in an intermediate position, and a spring pressed plunger carried by said operating member and projecting rearwardly therefrom to press against the bridging conductor, said operating member being pressed forward thereby to hold said bosses in their recesses when the operating member is in said intermediate position.

HUGH W. BATCHELLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,812,914 Williams et a1. July 7, 1931 

